Grand Gulf State Park (Missouri)

This article is about Grand Gulf State Park (Missouri). For other uses, see Grand Gulf.
Grand Gulf State Park
Missouri State Park
Water entering this cave reappears nine miles (14 km) away at Mammoth Spring.
Country United States
State Missouri
County Oregon
Elevation 712 ft (217 m) [1]
Coordinates 36°32′43″N 91°38′43″W / 36.54528°N 91.64528°W / 36.54528; -91.64528Coordinates: 36°32′43″N 91°38′43″W / 36.54528°N 91.64528°W / 36.54528; -91.64528 [1]
Area 321.96 acres (130 ha) [2]
Established 1984
Management Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Owner L-A-D Foundation
Location in Missouri
Website: Grand Gulf State Park
Designated June 1971

Grand Gulf State Park is a state-operated, privately owned and publicly accessible, geologic preserve near Thayer, Missouri, encompassing a forked canyon that is the remnant of an ancient collapsed dolomite cave system.[3] The land that is now the park was acquired by the late conservationist Leo Drey (1917–2015) before becoming part of the Missouri state parks system. The 322-acre (130 ha) state park has been operated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources under a lease agreement with the L-A-D Foundation since 1984.[4] Grand Gulf was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1971 as an excellent example of karst topography and underground stream piracy.[5] A 60-acre (24 ha) portion of the park was designated by the state as the Grand Gulf Natural Area in 1986.[6]

Description

The Grand Gulf is nearly 1 mile (1.6 km) long and up to 130 feet (40 m) deep with sheer sides. An uncollapsed part of the original cavern roof spans 250 feet (76 m), creating one of the largest natural bridges in Missouri. A watershed of 28 square miles (73 km2) feeds into the gulf which itself drains into a cave entrance at its eastern end.[4] Dye traces have shown that water entering the cave in Grand Gulf emerges 1 to 4 days later at Mammoth Spring in Arkansas, 9 miles (14 km) distant.

Facilities

The park has picnicking facilities and two trails for viewing the gulf. The park's heavy foliage makes fall and winter the best viewing seasons.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Grand Gulf State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ "Missouri State Park Advisory Board Annual Report 2008". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Grand Gulf State Park". Missouri State Parks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "General Information: Grand Gulf State Park". Missouri State Parks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Grand Gulf". National Natural Landmarks Program. National Park Service. June 28, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Grand Gulf Natural Area". Conservation Commission of Missouri. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Trails at Grand Gulf State Park". Missouri State Parks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 7, 2015.

Beveridge, Thomas R. (1980), Geologic Wonders and Curiosities of Missouri, Rolla, Mo.: Missouri Division of Geology and Land Survey, pp. 335–344, Library of Congress Card Catalog No. 78-69968 

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